A group of Reed Smith intellectual property lawyers, led by longtime head of Reed Smith’s IP practice, Louis M. Heidelberger, left the firm this week. The group, which also included partner Thomas J. McWilliams and associates Edward F. Behm Jr., Justin C. Allen and Todd A. Norton, will be joining Gibbons’ Philadelphia office. Heidelberger is looking forward to being a part of firm management, serving as co-administrative director of the Philly office and being a part of the firm’s executive committee. Gibbons is well known for its IP work, and has 35 attorneys working in that area. The Philadelphia office opened in May of 2005, and expanded quickly thanks to a merger with litigation boutique Hecker Brown Sherry & Johnson.
Source: www.law.com

Fox Rothschild, a Philadelphia-based firm, has settled a deal with MillerMitchell PC of Princeton, NJ. Currently, 150 of Fox Rothschild’s 400 attorneys are based in New Jersey. With the merger, MillerMitchell brings its corporate, intellectual property and business trial practice to Fox Rothschild. Just last year the firm also merged with Grotta, Glassman & Hoffman, P.C., of Roseland, adding 53 lawyers to its ranks.
Source: www.njbiz.com

Under the KORUS FTA, Korea has agreed to phased-opening of the domestic legal services market to international firms. In preparation for the opening, local firms are working to stay competitive and build their practices. The law market opening will occur in three phases, over a span of at about five years. In the first phase after FTA implementation, U.S. lawyers can establish offices and work as “consultants” on issues related to U.S. and international law. In the second phase, two years after implementation, U.S. firms can affiliate with Korean firms and split revenue on cases. In the final phase, five years after implementation, U.S. firms can establish joint ventures with Korean firms and U.S. firms can hire Korean lawyers. In this new market, leading U.S. firms will have an edge in M&A work, capital markets and cross-border business deals.
Source: www.times.hankooki.com

Two more firms just announced a first-year associate salary increase. Flaster Greenberg of Cherry Hill, New Jersey raised its starting pay for all offices from $120,000 to $130,000. According to the firm’s managing shareholder, the pay increase follows the firm’s expansion over the past five years, and is its way to remain competitive in recruiting. The firm’s offices are located in Philadelphia; Vineland, Morristown, Egg Harbor Township and Cherry Hill, NJ and Wilmington, Delaware. Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll will also increase starting salaries on July 1 from $125,000 to $135,000. This $10,000 raise will be applied to associate levels.
Source: www.nylawyer.com